Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 8

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT OUR SIN PROBLEM?

From: November 8, 2024

“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4 ESV).

God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, rebuking the people of Israel for accusing Him of injustice and reminding them that He was both owner and judge of their souls. God further warned them to stop blaming their sins on their parents. For God judges each soul according to its own sinful or righteous state.

We are not simply to attribute our existence to our parents, but to recognize God as Father and the One who created us in His own image, and who gave and still gives us the spirit of life. Our souls ultimately belong to Him. As both Creator and Sustainer of our souls, He is also the righteous judge over our souls. And He has declared from the beginning that the “soul who sins shall die.”

This is a real problem for all humanity. For the Word also says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). What can be done about our sin problem? Who can rescue us from our destiny with death?

Only One can save us. As the Word says in another place, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Repenting of our sins and trusting in Christ for salvation, we are considered righteous before God. As the apostle Paul proclaimed of Christ, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus took our death, that we might receive His eternal life. He took our sin, that we might receive His righteousness. Jesus is the only solution to our sin and death problem.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for providing a solution for our sin and death problem. What we could not do for ourselves, You have done. Thank You for Jesus who gave His life for us. Now, we surrender our lives afresh to Him as His followers. Empower us by Your Spirit to walk by faith today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DON’T LET YOUR SINS DESTROY YOU

From: November 8, 2023

“Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 18:30-31 NLT).

God warned Israel through His prophet Ezekiel to repent before their sins destroyed them. For although sin may seem pleasant at first, it ultimately results in suffering and death. The sin itself brings its own judgment.

Sin begins as an attitude of rebellion in the heart against God. Yet God calls those who would repent and turn to Him to find a new heart and new spirit. This new heart and spirit can only be found in Jesus.

For God in His grace offers a way out through Jesus, His Son. Jesus took sin’s suffering, separation and death, so that we could receive a new heart and “Turn back and live!”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so thankful that You have given us a new heart and a new spirit through faith in Jesus. You have replaced our hard, rebellious hearts with tender, obedient hearts. We always want to live to please You. Strengthen us to follow You this day in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use” (Hebrews 9:8 NLT).

From: November 8, 2022

THE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE TABERNACLE

The Holy Spirit was the inspiration for understanding the meaning of the Tabernacle and how it pointed to its fulfillment in Christ. For the place called the “Most Holy Place” is a reference to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, wherein the High Priest was only able to enter once a year on the Day of Atonement, which is called Yom Kippur. This way to approach God was only open in this limited way.

Yet, it pointed to a day when it would be made “freely open” to all through Christ Jesus, our Great High Priest, who paid for our sins with His own blood. For when Christ died on the cross, the veil, the curtain of separation, was torn and the way to the Father was opened (Matt.27:51).

As a result everyone who trusts in Christ may enter with “boldness, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil” (Heb. 10:19-20). Therefore, let us draw near to God with full assurance, knowing that Christ has paved the way for our access to the Father.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are able to call You Father because of Jesus, Your Son. For we are in Him and He is in us. We therefore come into Your presence with confidence, not in ourselves, but in Your provision for us through Christ Jesus. Thank You for this great salvation and this wonderful access! Forgive us for taking it for granted. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘”For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!”‘ (Ezekiel 18:32 HCSB).

From: November 8, 2021

GOD TAKES NO PLEASURE IN DEATH

The prophet Ezekiel recorded God’s response to Israel’s false accusations against Him. For they accused God of being unjust and taking pleasure in their demise. They accused Him of holding the sons responsible for the sins of the fathers. They accused God of being unfair in His treatment of them. After the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, instead of repenting, they blamed their forefathers and they blamed God.

Yet God patiently responded. He reminded them of their sins. He corrected their claim that God judged the sons for the sins of the fathers saying, “The person who sins is the one who will die” (Ez.18:4). He told them that it was actually they themselves that were acting unfairly and unjustly. He took no pleasure in their deaths and reminded them that if they would only repent of their sins and turn from their wicked ways, they would live.

It is human nature to try to shift the blame on others or on God. Yet God still patiently responds to us. We can repent and live. We can place our faith in Jesus Christ and get “a new heart and a new spirit” (Ez. 18:31).

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for blaming You for our own sins. We repent and believe. Forgive us and cleanse us. For we have placed our faith in Jesus. You are faithful and just. We trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing” (Hebrews 9:8 NKJV).

From: November 8, 2020

THE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE TABERNACLE

The Holy Spirit was the inspiration for understanding the meaning of the Tabernacle and how it pointed to its fulfillment in Christ. For the place here called the “Holiest of All” is a reference to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, wherein the High Priest was only able to enter once a year and not without blood. This “way” to approach God was only open in this limited way. Yet, it pointed to a day when it would be made wide open to all through Christ Jesus, our Great High Priest, who would pay for our sins with His own blood.

As a result, everyone who has trusted Christ may enter with “boldness, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil” (Heb. 10:19-20). Therefore, let us draw near to God with full assurance, knowing that Christ has paved the way for our access to the Father.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are able to call You Father because of Jesus, Your Son. For we are in Him and He is in us. We therefore come into Your presence with confidence, not in ourselves, but in Your provision for us through Christ Jesus. Thank You for this great salvation and this wonderful access! Forgive us for taking it for granted. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use” (Hebrews 9:8 NLT).

From: November 8, 2019

A NEW AND LIVING WAY IS NOW OPEN TO GOD

The two rooms of the Tabernacle were symbolic of the spiritual separation existing between God and man. Only priests could enter the first room called the Holy Place. And only the High Priest could enter the second room called the Most Holy Place, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement, which is called Yom Kippur. Yet, when Christ died on the cross, the curtain of separation was torn and the way to the Father was opened (Matt.27:51). Because of Jesus we may approach the throne of God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Jesus has opened the way for us, not by having us keep religious “regulations,” but by believing in Him and receiving Him in relationship as Lord and Savior. Therefore, we are able to “boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place” (Heb.10:19-20).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are able to come to you boldly at any time as children coming to their father. For we have been adopted into Your family as Your very own children. We are not motivated by fear, but by love as we seek Your face. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit. Make us bold as Your witnesses. We are Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use” (Hebrews 9:8 NLT).

From: November 8, 2018

THE TEMPLE FORESHADOWED THAT WHICH CHRIST FULFILLED

The two rooms of the Tabernacle were symbolic of the spiritual separation existing between God and man. Only priests could enter the first room called the Holy Place. And only the High Priest could enter the second room called the Most Holy Place, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement (“Yom Kippur”). Yet, when Christ died on the cross, the curtain of separation was rent and the way to the Father was opened. Because of Jesus we may approach the throne of God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Jesus has opened the way for us, not by having us keep religious “regulations,” but by believing in Him and receiving Him in relationship as Lord and Savior.

The Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple, ending its religious sacrifices and practices, in 70 A.D. It was always only a foreshadowing of that which Christ is the fulfillment. Christ has opened a new and living way to a right relationship with God.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 106:48 NKJV).

From: November 9, 2017

The psalmist concluded with an admonition that all people should shout “Amen,” when they hear the Lord being praised. “Amen” is more than the word we teach children to say at the end of their prayers. Some use it casually as a word of affirmation, or to say, “I agree.” It literally means, “So be it!” Yet for the Christ-follower, it takes on the further meaning of, “Let it be so in me!”

After the reading of God’s Word on Sundays, I usually say, “This is God’s Word.” To which the congregation responds, “Amen!” By doing so, they are affirming the statement’s truth, while also opening up their hearts and minds to receive it.

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:32 ESV)

From: November 8, 2016

After warning Israel that each individual would be judged for their own sin and that death would be the result, God revealed His heart. He found no pleasure in having to carry out judgment. He warned them, so that they would turn and live. He did not want to them to suffer death. This was the message he gave the prophet Ezekiel to preach, yet Israel would not hear. This is why God sent His Son, that we might turn from our sins in repentance and turn to Him through Christ. For God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

“It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience” (Hebrews 9:9 NKJV)

From: November 8, 2015

The Tabernacle with all its sacrifices and rituals was “symbolic” for the “perfect tabernacle not made with hands” (Heb.9:11), which is the Christ. It pointed to His fulfillment, which took place when He offered His own blood as redemption for our sins. The sacrificial system with its rules and regulations is no longer necessary. It has been replaced with Christ. The old covenant has been fulfilled and replaced by a new covenant. The old covenant which could not perfect the “conscience,” has been replaced with the blood of Jesus, which can.